Kesko’s comparable sales grew in February
“Kesko's sales grew in comparable terms on the year before. Grocery sales to K-food stores increased clearly, but sales in the grocery trade division were also impacted by the decrease in Kespro’s sales due to Covid-19 restrictions. In the building and technical trade division, growth continued strong. Sales also grew in the car trade,” says Kesko’s President and CEO Mikko Helander.
Sales in the grocery trade division totalled €423.3 million in February, an increase of 0.2%. The month had one delivery day less than the year before. Grocery sales to K-food stores increased by 6.9%. Kespro’s sales decreased by 24.2%, impacted by restrictions imposed on restaurants, events and travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and people working from home.
Sales in the building and technical trade division totalled €296.7 million in February, an increase of 5.0% in comparable terms in local currencies. Sales in the building and technical trade excluding the speciality goods trade grew by 5.2% in comparable terms. Sales in Finland grew by 3.1% and sales elsewhere by 8.1%. In the speciality goods trade, sales in the leisure trade increased by 2.7%. Reported sales in the building and technical trade decreased by 10.4%. Kesko has reported Kesko Senukai as a joint venture from 1 July 2020 onwards, and consequently Kesko Senukai’s sales are not included in the reported sales for February 2021.
Sales in the car trade division totalled €79.8 million in February, an increase of 11.8%.
Kesko Group's sales totalled €797.9 million in February, representing an increase of 3.0% in comparable terms.
Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in February 2021:
| February 2021 | Comparable | ||
| € million | Change, % | change, % | |
| Grocery trade, total | 423.3 | +0.2 | +0.2 |
| Building and technical trade, Finland | 166.6 | +3.7 | +3.1 |
| Building and technical trade, other countries | 130.1 | -23.7 | +8.1 |
| Building and technical trade, total | 296.7 | -10.4 | +5.0 |
| Car trade, total | 79.8 | +11.8 | +11.8 |
| Common functions and eliminations | -1.8 | ||
| Grand total | 797.9 | -3.1 | +3.0 |
| Finland, total | 667.9 | +2.3 | +2.1 |
| Other countries, total | 130.1 | -23.7 | +8.1 |
| Grand total | 797.9 | -3.1 | +3.0 |
Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in January-February 2021:
| 1.1.-28.2.2021 | Comparable | ||
| € million | Change, % | change, % | |
| Grocery trade, total | 839.8 | -2.1 | -2.1 |
| Building and technical trade, Finland | 316.2 | +0.5 | +0.1 |
| Building and technical trade, other countries | 250.4 | -26.8 | +5.3 |
| Building and technical trade, total | 566.6 | -13.8 | +2.2 |
| Car trade, total | 159.7 | +2.8 | +2.8 |
| Common functions and eliminations | -3.6 | ||
| Grand total | 1,562.5 | -6.3 | -0.2 |
| Finland, total | 1,312.1 | -1.0 | -1.0 |
| Other countries, total | 250.4 | -26.8 | +5.3 |
| Grand total | 1,562.5 | -6.3 | -0.2 |
Change % indicates the change when compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The comparable change % has been calculated in local currencies and excluding the impact of Kesko Senukai and acquisitions and divestments completed in 2020.
The reported sales for Kesko Group include the acquisitions and divestments completed in 2020, in accordance with the dates of completion. In 2020, the building and technical trade division completed the acquisitions of Mark & Infra i Sverige, Carlsen Fritzøe Handel, and Bygg & Interiör, and the divestment of Konekesko’s machinery trade operations in the Baltics.
In February 2021, Kesko’s grocery trade had one delivery day less than in 2020. In January-February, both Kesko’s grocery trade as well as building and technical trade in Finland, Sweden and Norway had two fewer delivery days than the year before. Saturdays are wholesale delivery days in the grocery trade, but not in the building and technical trade. Under normal circumstances, one delivery day has an approximately 2-4% impact on Kesko’s wholesale, depending on the division. The number or timing of delivery days in the car trade does not have a similar impact on sales.
Kesko publishes advance information on the retail sales of K Group’s stores quarterly in connection with interim reports.
Further information is available from Vice President, Group Controller Eva Kaukinen, tel. +358 105 322 338.
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